ArcGIS Desktop licensing

In this topic

This topic presents introductory licensing concepts for ArcGIS Desktop. ArcGIS Desktop is a suite of five desktop applications that includes ArcGIS Pro. Most of this information applies equally to all the component products of ArcGIS Desktop. However, there is one important licensing feature—the Named User license type—that is unique to ArcGIS Pro.

Workflows for configuring ArcGIS Pro licenses are provided in subsequent topics, grouped by the type of license used:

Software applications included in an ArcGIS Desktop license

An ArcGIS Desktop license includes the following five desktop GIS applications:

ArcGIS Pro

ArcMap

ArcCatalog

ArcScene

ArcGlobe

These applications are not available individually; they are only available as part of ArcGIS Desktop.

An ArcGIS Desktop license also includes an ArcGIS Online organization subscription. The ArcGIS Online organization is an important part of an ArcGIS Desktop license. By default, you use the organization to manage ArcGIS Pro licenses as well as the licenses for ArcGIS Pro extensions and premium ArcGIS apps.

Types of ArcGIS Desktop licenses

There are three types of ArcGIS Desktop licenses:

Named User (available for ArcGIS Pro only)

Single Use

Concurrent Use

Considered as a whole, ArcGIS Desktop has two license types: Single Use and Concurrent Use. When you purchase an ArcGIS Desktop license, it is one of these two types. The license type you choose is used for all core ArcGIS Desktop applications except ArcGIS Pro. By default, ArcGIS Pro uses a third license type, Named User, which is unique to the ArcGIS Pro application. ArcGIS Pro uses the Named User license type whether your ArcGIS Desktop license is Single Use or Concurrent Use.

Each license type is different with respect to how the software applications are authorized, how the licenses are managed, and how users start the application on first use. Single Use and Concurrent Use licenses are configured with authorization files. Named User licenses are configured through an ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise organization. This means that if you use multiple desktop applications, such as ArcGIS Pro and ArcMap, you will probably configure the licenses differently.

ArcGIS Desktop license levels

An ArcGIS Desktop license can be purchased at one of three different levels of functionality:

Basic

Standard

Advanced

All ArcGIS Desktop applications have the same license level. For example, if you purchase an ArcGIS Desktop advanced license, you will have an ArcGIS Pro advanced license, an ArcMap advanced license, and so on.

License duration

Perpetual licenses and term licenses are the two available models for the duration of an ArcGIS Desktop license.

A perpetual license doesn’t expire. This means that all the desktop applications included in the license can be used indefinitely. However, it is necessary to stay current with an Esri Maintenance Program to keep your ArcGIS Online organization active and to receive product updates and technical support.

A term license must be renewed annually. During the license term, your ArcGIS Online organization is active and you receive product updates and technical support.

For more information, contact Esri to talk to Esri Customer Service or your local distributor.

Extension product licenses

ArcGIS Desktop extension products integrate seamlessly with desktop applications to provide specialized functionality. An extension product license allows you to use the extension with all ArcGIS Desktop applications for which it is available. For example, a Spatial Analyst license allows you to use the extension with both ArcMap and ArcGIS Pro. (Some extensions are available only for certain applications.) For more information about ArcGIS Pro extension products, see What You Get.

The same license types apply to extension products and core desktop applications. If you use the Named User license type for ArcGIS Pro, you will also use this license type for your ArcGIS Pro extensions. The license type you use for other ArcGIS Desktop applications will also be used for their extensions.